JPS59214042A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a state of incapability of actions classified by their causes by detecting a state of incapability of action of attached devices through plural detectors. CONSTITUTION:The detectors 52-56 of an original conveying device 3 detect whether attached devices are now capable of acting or not, and when they detect that one is incapable, a display device displays its state of incapability of action by classifying its cause. Therefore, the state of incapabilities of actions classified by the causes can be displayed with a simple structure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine to which an additional device such as a document feeder can be connected.

1- [Technical background of the invention and its problems] Recently, copying machines, for example, have been developed that can connect various additional devices, and these additional devices also include a document feeder or a sorter. Collating devices and other devices have been developed. Among these, the document feeding device is very convenient because it automatically feeds the document and saves the effort of replacing the document. However, if the machine is used incorrectly, for example if the copy key is pressed with a document placed in the document feeder before the document feeder is fully set, the machine will remain stopped and the user will not be able to identify the cause. I don't understand and it's very inconvenient. It is conceivable to provide a special warning device to notify the user, but this would be costly and not very practical.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus to which an additional device can be connected. Specifically, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a white coat.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus to which an additional device can be connected.
This system is configured so that when an additional device becomes inoperable, the cause is displayed.

[Embodiments of the invention]

'Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine according to the present invention in a state in which a document feeder (hereinafter simply referred to as ADF') is combined. That is, 1 is a copying machine main body, and a document table (transparent glass plate) 2 is provided on the top surface of this main body 1 to support a document.
A DF 3 is provided so as to be openable and closable. On the lower surface side of the document table 2, an exposure plate 4.
An exposure optical system 10 consisting of a mirror 5, 6, 7, a lens block 8 movable in the direction of the optical axis, and a fixed mirror 2-9 is provided, and by optically scanning the document surface with this optical system IO, The image of the original is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum II (slit exposure).

The photoreceptor drum II rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the surface is first charged by the charger I2, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by slit exposure of the image, and this electrostatic latent image is made into a visible image by the adhesion of toner by the developing device I3, and then the charge is removed by the pre-transfer charge-eliminating pump I4.

On the other hand, the paper P is taken out one by one from the selected upper paper feed cassette Z5 or lower paper feed cassette I6 by the delivery roller Z7 or I8, and is guided to the registration roller 2I through the paper guide path 19 or 20f, and is guided to the registration roller 2I through the paper guide path 19 or 20f. It is designed to be guided to the transfer section 22 by rollers 2I. Here, the above-mentioned paper feed cassette Zs.

I6 is removably provided at the lower right end of the main body l, and either one can be selected using an operation/main panel (not shown). The paper P sent to the transfer section 22 comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum II at the transfer charger 23, and the toner image on the photoreceptor drum II is formed by the action of the charger 23. transcribed.

The transferred paper P is electrostatically peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 11 by the action of the peeling charger 24 and then transferred to the paper transport path 25.
is conveyed, and sent to a heat roller 26 as a fixing device provided at the end thereof, and the transferred image is fixed by passing therethrough. Then, the paper P after fixing is discharged o
- It is discharged out of the main body l by the roller 27 and guided to the tray 28. After the transfer, the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is removed by the cleaner 29, and the residual image is erased by the static elimination lamp 3o.
It is set to return to the initial state.

The ADF 3 is composed of a feeding section 3I and a conveying section 32. The above-mentioned feeding unit 31 includes a tray 33 on which originals of originals can be placed all at once, and originals O placed on this tray 33.
The tray 33 has a take-out roller 35 and a registration roller 36. The tray 33 is tilted around 30 degrees, and the document 〇 placed on it is taken out by its own weight. The stop horn 934 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure using the shaft 37 as a fulcrum, and normally holds the leading edge of the document 0 in the state shown in the figure, When the document O is rotated downward by the solenoid 38, the holding of the original O is released.In this case, even after the holding of the original 0 is released, the stopper 34 is repeatedly rotated periodically by the solenoid 38, so that Vibration is applied to the original 0 from below, making it easy to take out the original 0. Further, the take-out rollers 35 are a pair of rollers that rotate in opposite directions, and make it possible to take out one sheet of the original 0.

The registration row 236 feeds the original 0 taken out by the take-out row 235 to the conveying section 32 at a proper timing, and also corrects the skew of the original 0. Also, in this feeding section 31, a take-out roller 3 is provided.
5 or = 6- A jam handling cover 39 is provided which is opened to clear the jam when a jam occurs in the registration roller 36 portion. It can be opened and closed freely.

On the other hand, the conveyance section 32 includes an endless belt 41 for conveying the document.
．． A row 242.43 on which this belt 4I is mounted, and rollers 44, 45.4 that press the belt 4I onto the document table 2.
6. It has a stop horn f42 that temporarily holds the document 0 sent onto the document table 2, and a paper discharge roller 48. The above Stone iJ? 47 is rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure with the shaft 49 as a fulcrum, and normally holds the leading edge of the original 0 in the state shown in the diagram, and releases the state in which the leading edge of the original O is held when rotated downward by the solenoid 50. It looks like this. Note that 51 is a tray that receives the ejected document 0, and is fixed to the main body 1.

Furthermore, the ADF 3 has a plurality of detectors 52.53°54
．． 55.56 are provided. The detector 52 is a document detector that detects whether or not the document O is present on the tray 33, and outputs an on signal when the document O is present. The detector 53 is.

This is for detecting that the document O has been reliably fed and sent to the transport section 32. The detector 54 is a jam handling cover opening/closing detector that detects opening/closing of the jam handling cover 39, and outputs an ON signal when the jam handling cover 39 is closed. The detector 55 is a transport section opening/closing detector that detects whether the transport section 32 is opened or closed, and outputs an on signal when the transport section 32 is closed. The detector 56 detects the original O
This is to detect that the gas has been discharged. In addition,
The above-mentioned detectors 53 and 56 are ADF jam detection sections 8 to be described later.
7. The operation of the ADF 3 in such a configuration will be explained. First, the originals Oe are placed on the tray 33 all at once. Next, with the copy start operation, solenoid 5
0 operates to retract the stopper 47 below the document table 2, and at the same time, the belt 41 runs and discharges the document that may remain on the document table 2. At the same time, the solenoid 38 operates to retract the stopper 34 below the tray 33, feed the original 0 on the tray 33 to the take-out roller 35 side, and take out the original 0 by the take-out roller 35. In this case, the registration row 236
is in a stopped state for a certain period of time, during which the document 0 is fed into the registration row 236 by the take-out roller 35, and the skew at the leading edge is corrected. Then, when the registration rollers 36 rotate, the document 0 is sent to the transport section 32. In addition,
When the registration row 236 starts rotating, the take-out row 235 stops rotating and the stone holder 47 returns to the holding position.

The document 0 sent to the conveyance unit 32 is conveyed by the belt 4K until it comes into contact with the stopper mother 47,
Stop. In this case, the belt 41 continues to run for a certain period of time from the time when the leading edge of the document 0 contacts the stopper 47, thereby aligning the document O. In this way, when the original O is set on the original table 2, the original
= Copying is performed. When the copying is completed, the solenoid 50 is operated to retract the stopper 47, and the belt 41 runs to eject the copied original O from the original platen 2. This discharged document O is discharged onto the tray 51 by the paper discharge roller 48. During this ejection operation, if original 0 is detected by the original detector 52, the above-described original ejection operation is repeated. Further, at this time, when the discharge of the original O is detected by the detector 56, the stone/mother 47 is returned to the holding position.

FIG. 2 shows the operation panel 61f, which includes a copy key 62 for executing a copying operation, a numeric keypad 63 for setting the number of copies, a number display section 64 for displaying the number of copies, and a keypad for selecting the upper paper feed cassette. Cassette selection key 65, lower cassette selection key 66 for selecting the lower paper feed cassette, liquid crystal display section 6 for displaying operating status, copying condition selection status, etc.
7, a magnification specifying key 68 for specifying a copy magnification, a copy density setting device 69, etc. are provided, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of segments constituting a schematic diagram of the copying machine displayed on the liquid crystal display element in the liquid crystal display section 67. As shown in FIG. In other words, 7I is a liquid crystal display, 9 channels, S
1 and 82 are pictogram display segments indicating whether or not a copying operation is possible; segment S1 alone can be copied; segment S1;
゜82 Both indicate that copying is not possible (during form ag).

83 to SII are instruction segments for indicating the paper size; 812 is a segment for displaying the lower cover of the copying machine body I; 813 is a segment for displaying the upper cover in the closed state;
S14 is a segment for displaying the upper cover in the open state), S
l5 is the display segment of ADF 3, 816 is the ADF
S17 is a pictogram display segment indicating that a paper jam has occurred in B, S17 is a pictogram display segment indicating that upper paper feed cassette I5 has been selected, and Sl8 is a pictogram display indicating that lower paper feed cassette I6 has been selected. 820 is a segment for displaying a manual paper feed tray, and S21 is a segment for indicating that a paper jam has occurred in the manual paper feed conveyance path. The pictogram display segment S22 indicates that the photosensitive drum 11
823 is a pictorial display segment indicating that a paper jam has occurred due to paper being wrapped around the photoconductor drum 11 or paper being caught in the cleaner 29, and 824 to 828 are pictograms indicating the conveyance state of the paper P. Display segment S29 is a pictorial display segment indicating that a paper jam has occurred in the heat roller 26 or the conveyance path near it, S30 is a pictorial display segment indicating that the toner is out of the toner hopper of developing device I3, S3I S is a pictogram display segment that indicates that the collected toner storage section is full of collected toner.
32 is a segment for displaying a pictogram indicating an instruction to call a key operator, S3.9 is a segment for displaying a pictogram indicating an instruction to call a service person, and S34 is a segment for displaying a pictogram indicating setting of key force wanta. Although not shown, a common electrode is provided on the surface facing each of the segments.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a method of displaying the paper size using the segments 83 to SII, where 71 is the liquid crystal display panel and 72 is a sticker on which the paper size is printed and displayed. The sticker 72 is affixed close to the side of the liquid crystal display panel 71 facing the segments 83 to 811, and the size is indicated on the side facing the segments 1-83 to SII. There is.

The size of the paper P in the selected paper feed cassette is indicated by lighting up the segment corresponding to the size of the paper P in the selected paper feed cassette.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the overall control system, which is mainly composed of a copying machine control section 8I and an ADF' control section 82. That is, the copying machine control section 8I receives signals from the copying key detection section 83 and other switch/detection section 84, controls the display system -13=85 and the drive system/process system 86, and manages the control of the entire copying operation. It is something. This copying machine control section 8I is mainly constituted by a microcomputer, operates according to a program stored in advance in a built-in memory (ROM), and performs all various controls. On the other hand, A
The DF control section 82 controls the transport section opening/closing detector 55. Jam handling cover opening/closing detector 54. Original detector 52 and AD
It receives a signal from the F jam detection section 87, controls the ADH' drive system 88, and controls the entire ADF.

This ADF control section 82 is also mainly composed of a microcomputer, operates according to a program stored in advance in a built-in memory, and performs various controls.

Further, the jam detecting section 87 includes the detector 53°56.
A jam in the conveying section 32 of the ADF 3 is detected using the output signal. On the other hand, ADF-RDY is a signal that turns on when ADF 3 is ready for operation.
ORG-EMP is a signal that turns on when the original O is placed on the tray 33, and these =14= are output from the ADF control unit 82 and input to the copying machine control unit 8I. In addition, the copying machine control section 8I and the ADF control section 8
2 through a pass line 89.

FIG. 6 shows a display control circuit for driving and controlling the liquid crystal display panel 7K, which is provided within the display system 85. That is, 91 is a liquid crystal drive circuit, to which a 34-bit data signal is inputted to an input terminal ID, a latch signal is inputted to an input terminal IL, and a clock signal is inputted to an input terminal IC from the copying machine control unit 8I. . 92 is an oscillation circuit, which oscillates at the optimum frequency to drive the liquid crystal.
The output is inputted as a driving signal 9A to an input terminal DPI of a liquid crystal driving circuit 9Z. Further, the drive pulse A is inverted by the impur 5 circuit 93 to become a drive pulse B of opposite polarity, and is input to the input terminal DP2 of the liquid crystal drive circuit 9I. Therefore, each output terminal 01 of the liquid crystal drive circuit 91
~034, a segment drive signal corresponding to the content of the data signal input to the input terminal ID is output, and each of these drive signals is applied to each segment of the liquid crystal display i4 channel 71)Sr-
83a, and a driving pulse B is applied to a common electrode 94 provided opposite to each of these segments 5Z-834.

FIG. 7 shows the liquid crystal drive circuit 91 in detail. That is, the shift registers III and ~111s4 are connected in cascade, and the first stage shift register II
A data signal from the input terminal ID is input to Ig, and each shift register 111! ~I I Ig4
A clock signal from the input terminal IC is input to the input terminal IC. Thereby, the data signal from the input terminal ID is sequentially transferred to each of the 34 shift registers 11 It to I Z 134 in synchronization with the clock signal from the input terminal IC. Each of the above shift registers 1111 to 1
Store registers 112 . ~1
12.4 are directly connected to each other. Each store register 112! ~ r r z34 opens and closes the switch Z I 31 = I I Ig4 according to the held contents, thereby opening and closing the output terminal Oz-Jo34.
The drive pulse A or Bf is selectively output. That is, the opening/closing control is performed so that, for example, when the content of the store register is 1'', the drive pulse A is output to the corresponding output terminal, and when the content is 0#, the drive pulse B is output to the corresponding output terminal.

Next, in the above configuration, FIGS. 8 to 19
The operation will be explained with reference to the figure. In addition.

8, 11, 14, and 17 are timing charts; FIGS. 9, 12, 15, and 18 are voltage waveforms applied to the liquid crystal display panel 7I; figure,
Figures 13 and 16.

FIG. 19 shows display examples.

First, the case in standby state (copyable state) will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 1'0. When the copying machine enters the standby state, the copying machine control unit 81 operates according to a program programmed in fc3 in advance, and sends a data signal indicating the standby state, such as [:10001000000110101001
01000000000000] (34th bit on the left)
A data signal (hereinafter referred to as A signal) is sequentially output from the 1st bit in synchronization with a clock signal, and a latch signal is output when the data transfer of the final 34th bit is completed. As a result, the store register 11 in the liquid crystal drive circuit 9I
The above A symbol is held in 21 to Z 1234, and the store register 1121 has the content 1#.
, 1125 P 11212tl12u *IZ2
Isel1211, ll2zo +1122g and corresponding output terminals 01.05.012, 01.9. O15,
Drive signal A is output from 017, 020° 022, and this serves as a segment drive signal to the store register Z12.NI 124 which is connected to the liquid crystal display panel 71.
, 1126~11211+ Z 12@<+ ll2t
6+ 1121@* 1121@*112z1*112
2, ~I Z 2.4 and corresponding output terminals 02~04°06~011,014,016.01B, 019.62
1.023-Jo34 outputs driving pulse B,
This becomes a segment drive signal of opposite polarity, and the segments 82-84, 86-811, . S1
4. S16°818.819. S21,823~S34
is applied to At this time, since the drive/IP pulse B is applied to the common electrode 94 of the liquid crystal display/armpit 71,
Common electrode 94 and segments SZ, S5. S12. S13
．． Figure 9 (
A voltage with an AC waveform as shown in f) is applied. As a result, Seda〆/toS1 +S5.812,813,815.81
'l, S20.822 is in a lit state. On the other hand, segments other than the above 82~84°86~S11.814,8
16,81B, S19.821.823-834,
Since a voltage in phase with the common electrode 94 is applied as shown in FIG. 9(c) (,), there is no potential difference between them as shown in FIG. 9(g), and therefore the segments 82 to 84, 86
~B11. S14. Fj16. SIB, S19. S21
° S23 to S34 are in a non-lighting state. Therefore, the display contents in this case are as shown in FIG. 10, which indicates that the copying machine is in a standby state.

Next, a case where a jam occurs in the ADF S will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. A
When the DF jam detection section 87 detects a jam (paper jam) in the ADF S, the ADF control section 82 sends a signal indicating the ADF jam to the copying machine control section 81 via the bus line/89. When the copying machine control unit 8I receives the above signal, the ADF
A data signal indicating a jam, for example (00001000
0001101110010100000000000
A data signal of 0:] is output.

As a result, the same operation as described above is performed, and the common electrode 94 and segment S5. , S12. SIB, S15~817°8
An AC waveform voltage is applied only between 20.822 and 20.822, and only that segment is in a lighting state, and the remaining segments are in a non-lighting state. Therefore, the display contents in this case are as shown in FIG. 13, which completely indicates that a jam has occurred in the ADF 9 and that the ADF 3 is in an inoperable state.

Next, a case where the conveying section 32 of the ADF 3 or the jam handling cover 39 is open will be described. First, when both are closed, both the transport section opening/closing detector 55 and the jam handling cover opening/closing detector 54 output an on signal. As a result, the ADF control section 82 receives the signal ADF -
Turn on RDY. At this time, if the document detector 52
If it detects the original O, the signal ORG -EMP is also turned on at the same time. Cono signal ADH'-RDY,
When the copy key detection unit 83 detects that the copy key 62 is turned on while both ORG-EMP are on, the copy machine control unit 81 controls the drive system/process system 86 and turns the pass line 89 on. ADF control unit 82 via
By controlling the ADF, a copying operation using a well-known ADF is performed. On the other hand, the conveyance section 32 and the soyam processing cover 3
9 are both closed and the document detector 52 does not detect document 0, the ADF control unit 82 outputs the signal ADF -RD.
Turn on Y and turn off signal ORG -FmMP 'i. At this time, when the copy key detection section 83 detects that the copy key 62 is turned on, the copy machine control section 8I
Perform a copy operation without using DF.

Next, when the transport section 32 or the jam processing cover 39 is open, the transport section opening/closing detector 21-55 or the jam processing cover opening/closing detector 54 outputs an off signal, so that the ADF control section 82 is signal ADF
-Turn off RDY. At this time, if the document detector 52 does not detect the document O, the ADF control section 82 outputs the signal OR.
When the G-M e is turned off and the copy key detection section 83 detects that the copy key 62 is turned on, the copy machine control section 81 performs a well-known copying operation without using the ADF.

On the other hand, when the transport section 32 or the jam handling cover 39 is open and the signal ADF -RDY is off.

When the document detector 52 detects document 0, the ADF control unit 8
2 turns on ORG-EMP e. At this time, when the copy key detection section 83 detects that the copy key 62 is turned on, the copy machine control section 81 does not perform a copy operation, and displays on the liquid crystal display section 67 that the ADF 3 is in an inoperable state. do. In this case, the display consists of two types of display A and B.

Displays A and B are repeated alternately, and the details will be explained below.

First, one display section will be explained with reference to FIGS. 14 to 1622-. The copying machine control unit 81 generates a data signal indicating an inoperable state Ai, for example (0000
1000000110101001010000000
00000) is output. As a result, the same operation as described above is performed, and the common electrode 94 and the segment 85
, S12. S13. S15,817. S20. An alternating current waveform voltage is applied only between S22 and only that segment is in a lighting state, and the remaining segments are in a non-lighting state. Therefore, the display contents in this case are as shown in FIG. 16, which is display A indicating that the ADF 3 is in an inoperable state.

Next, display B will be explained with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19. The copying machine control unit 81 generates a data signal indicating an indication BQ of an inoperable state, for example (000010000
0011000100101000000000000
Outputs a data signal of 1. As a result, the same operation as described above is performed, and the common electrode 94 and the segment 85, S12.
S13. Si2. B20. An alternating current waveform voltage is applied only between S22 and only that segment is in a lighting state, and the remaining segments are in a non-lighting state. Therefore, the display contents in this case are as shown in FIG. 19, which is display B when the ADF 3 is in an inoperable state. The copying machine control unit 8I alternately repeats the above-mentioned displays A and B, and as a result, the segment SZ5 representing the ADF, 9e flashes. This flash operation ends when the conveyance section 32 and the jam handling cover 39 are closed, and the display returns to the standby state shown in FIG. 10. Note that this also applies when a predetermined period of time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the flash operation was started.

Similarly, the display returns to the standby state.

The operations explained above are summarized in the table below.

In the case of a copying machine as described above, the transport section 3 of the ADF 3
2 or the jam handling cover 39 is open and the document 0
is set to ADF 3 and the copy key 62 is pressed, no copying operation is performed and the ADF 3 of 1 Lua is displayed on the LCD display Δ.
Since the segment 815 representing , flashes, the user can immediately see why it is not working. This is particularly effective when the user intends to close the conveyor section 32 or the jam handling cover 39, but in reality it is not completely closed.

Furthermore, even if the transport section 32 or the jam handling cover 39 is open, if document 0 is not set in the ADF 3, the ADFJ' will perform unused copying operations, such as when copying a three-dimensional object. It's not something that gets in the way of time. Furthermore, ADF
If a jam occurs in the S, a special display is provided, making it easy for the user to understand and preventing erroneous operations.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a liquid crystal display element was used as the display means, but there is no need to limit it to this.

For example, a lamp may be used to illuminate the back side of a film on which characters or figures are written. Further, although a microcontroller is used as a control means, a simple logic circuit may be used. Further, although the case where the additional device is a document feeding device has been described, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the additional device is a collating device, or both cases. Further, although the description has been given using a copying machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to image forming apparatuses such as electronic printers, printing machines, and facsimile machines.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus to which an additional device can be connected, when the additional device 26- is in an inoperable state, it is possible to clearly display guidance to the user according to the cause. An image forming device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of a copying machine equipped with a document feeder, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation/armpit, and FIG. The figure shows an example of the arrangement of segments that make up the schematic diagram of a copying machine displayed on a liquid crystal display element, Figure 4 is a diagram to explain how to display paper size, and Figure 5 shows overall control. A block diagram schematically showing the system pipe, Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram of the display control circuit,
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the liquid crystal drive circuit, FIGS. 8, 11, 14, and 17 are timing charts for explaining the operation, and FIGS. 9, 12, 15, and 18
The figure is a voltage waveform diagram applied to the liquid crystal display panel, No. 10.
13, 16 and 19 are diagrams showing display examples. 2... Original table, 3... Original feeding device, 10... Exposure optical system, II... Photosensitive drum, 13... Developing device, 15. 16... Paper feed cassette, 26... ...Heat roller, 0...Document, 3...Feeding section, 32...Transportation section, 39...Jam processing cover, 52-56...
Detector, 6I...operation panel, 62...copy key,
67...Liquid crystal display section, 7I...Liquid crystal display/mother panel,
S15...Document feeder display segment, S16...
. . . Jam display segment; 81 . . . Copy machine control unit; 82 . . . ADF control unit; 87 . Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 4th wl 71 Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming device to which a 7+1 device can be connected,
a detection means for detecting whether or not the additional device is in an operable state; and a display means for displaying the inoperable state by cause when the detection means detects that the additional device is in an inoperable state; An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional device is a document feeding device. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means performs display using a liquid crystal display element.